Restoring Steelhead Trout

Re “Stream of Dreams,” July 31.

The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board supports the maintenance and restoration of steelhead trout--now proposed for listing as endangered--in Southern California’s still viable steelhead streams. Steelhead are like the canary in the coal mine, and their status is representative of the health of western coastal streams.

The principal streams in Los Angeles and Ventura counties having suitable habitat and remnant steelhead runs are the Santa Clara River and its tributaries, Ventura River and its tributaries, and Malibu Creek. As to these streams, the California Department of Fish and Game’s Steelhead Restoration and Management Plan recommends:

* Ventura River:

1. Construct a fish ladder at Robles Diversion, to provide steelhead with access to spawning and rearing habitat above the diversion.

2. Improve bypass flows through Robles Diversion to sustain steelhead below the diversion.

3. Discuss removing or modifying the silted-up Matilija Dam, to provide access to habitat above the dam.

* Santa Clara River:

1. Ensure that the fish ladder, fish screen and bypass facilities built in 1991 at Freeman Diversion on the Santa Clara at Saticoy are working effectively.

2. Determine the necessary in-stream flows for steelhead on the main stem Santa Clara and bypass flows at Freeman Diversion and make provision therefor.

3. Rebuild the fish ladder on Harvey’s Dam to provide access to habitat on Santa Paula Creek.

* Malibu Creek:

1. Investigate removal of the silted-up Rindge Dam.

2. Maintain flows from Tapia Wastewater Treatment Plant sufficient to prevent dewatering and high water temperatures in the stream below Rindge Dam.

JOHN SLEZAK

Slezak is a board member of the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Los Angeles Region.